METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN A MACHINE POWERED BY AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

A method for optimizing fuel consumption in a machine powered by an internal combustion engine includes providing a fuel economy map associated at least in part with the internal combustion engine, the fuel economy map defining a fuel economy at a plurality of operating points of the internal combustion engine; determining a reserve need associated with the machine; determining an available reserve of the internal combustion engine for the plurality of operating points; identifying each operating point of the plurality of operating points having an acceptable reserve, the acceptable reserve being the available reserve that satisfies the reserve need; evaluating the fuel economy for the each operating point; and defining an output value for the each operating point based on the fuel economy and the acceptable reserve.